Massage Therapy is governed by the Maryland State Board of Massage Therapy Examiners of the Maryland Department of Health.
There are two levels of Massage Therapy certification in Maryland.
The State of Maryland* requires the following to become licensed in Massage Therapy:
Registered Massage Practitioner (RMP) has been phased out as of October 1, 2024. Application for conversion from RMP to LMT status on or before October 31, 2026 requires the following:
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- Held an active registration, remaining in good standing for a minimum of 10 years prior to the conversion request; or
- Accumulated 1,000 hours of hands-on experience over the previous two years, achieved through work hours and continuing education hours.
- Complete a total of 750 contact hours, including program education hours and continuing education hours.
- CPR Card at Healthcare Provider Level.
- Active Maryland Registration (RMP) Card.      Â
Licensed Massage Therapist (LMT)
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- Successful completion of a minimum 750-hour approved Massage Therapy program.
- Successful completion of a national licensing exam (MBLEx or NCBTMB).
- CPR, minimum at the Basic Life Support (BLS) level.
All applicants must successfully complete the Board’s Online Jurisprudence Examination with a minimum score of 75%, to qualify for licensure or regulations.
Additional requirements include fingerprinting, criminal history check, a 2×2 inch passport type photograph, professional references, certificate of moral character, etc.
Both the RMP and LMT license require online renewal each even numbered year. Timely renewal requires completion by October 31.
Renewal of Registered Massage Practitioner (RMP) and Licensed Massage Therapist (LMT) requires 24 CE hours for each two-year term. A licensee applying for first time license renewal is exempt from continuing education requirements until the next registration period. Â First-time renewals require a mandatory completion of a one hour Implicit Bias training course.
Of the 24 CE Hours the following must be included:
- Three (3) CE hours in professional ethics or jurisprudence;
- Three (3) CE hours in communicable disease education;
- Sixteen (16) hours in massage-related courses as approved by the Board.
- Two (2) hours in diversity, cultural competency, or implicit bias training.
- Current certification in CPR at, a minimum, the Basic Life Support (BLS) level.
- Courses may be completed in live, home study, or online format.
The State of Maryland accepts courses for continuing education from providers in the CE Registry. The State of Maryland also accepts courses for continuing education from providers approved by the NCBTMB.
Dexterity PD is a proud Approved Provider with the Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards (FSMTB). Our courses are available and listed in the CE Registry. Course completion records are stored in the national Massage Therapy Licensing Database (MTLD) for permanent recording.
Dexterity PD is a proud Approved Provider with the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork (NCBTMB). The most current list of our courses approved by NCBTMB can be found on our NCBTMB Approved Provider Profile Page.
*Please confirm with your state as the list of states that accept courses through CE Registry may change. Please refer to your State and/or Licensing body for details and authoritative information on requirements.
